BADMINTON: Ireland U13 call-up for Alpha trio

Brian Kelly

Alpha Badminton Club will have three players in the Ireland team competing in the prestigious Under 13 Glasgow Youth International team and individual event from 19-21 May.

The side, announced earlier this week, includes Chloe Woods who recently reached two semi-finals in the Irish Under 13 National Championships and is currently ranked No. 4 in Under 13 Girls Singles.

Matthew Cheung, the RBAI pupil who lifted both the Boys Singles and Mixed Doubles titles in the same competition, was competing in Denmark last weekend, when he narrowly missed out on a place in the quarter-finals, losing 21-19 21-17 to one of the seeds.

An outstanding prospect having beaten some of the best in his age group in England, Matthew has also won a double at the Munster Under 13s, a hat-trick in the Leinster Under 13 and a double in the Ulster Under 13 competitions.

Meanwhile Stuart McCollam partnered Matthew to reach the final of the Boys Doubles in the Irish Under 13 National Championships and appeared to be showing signs of returning to the form which had seen him matching his doubles partner Cheung 18 months ago.